Pleat-marking device



Jan- 26, 1965 A. PAcKl-:R ETAL HEAT-MARKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13,

Jan 26, 1965 A. PACKER ETAL HEAT-MARKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D ww Kl im mmm;

Filed NOV. 13, 1962 Q u w @w MN ww uw. wm m f m wm Nw wm vm MN @NR Wm mw ,Q mw O O O kN/o o O O O QN m\\ @E @N United States Patent PLEAT-MARKING DEVHCE Albert Packer, Los Angeles, and lohn Benedetto, Reseda, Calif., assignors to Speed Pleat Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a partnership Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,643 3 Claims. (Cl. C13- 192) CII width, primarily `due to overlap in one end panel and return or bend allowance in the other, makes the abo-ve calculation of a multi-panel drapery curtain one that must .be carried out differently for each of the severa-lk panels, with resulting additional Vtime loss. Also, ya drapery or curtain may 'be made up of several -full panels and a panel of fractional width, thereby further complicating the .pleat spacing.

In marking pleats, the primary considerations are twofold: one, unformity of pleat spacing throughout the full width of a drapery, whether of one or of more than one panel and whether a fractional panel is involved; and, two, hiding the seams in multi-.panel draperies by .placing of ythe seams immediately adjacent the pleats so that the same and the folds 4formed thereby hide the seams from yordinary view. Y

Accordingly, another object yof the invention is to provide a plaat-marking device that, while marking selected pleat spacing, simultaneously marks pleat width.

A further object of the Yinvention is to provide a device of the character referred to that provides for pre-setting of the .pleat spacing so the same may be set as desired, and that provides for automatic pleat-width marking in relation to such spacing of pleats and according to the width of a drapery panel being marked. Thus, the present device may be applied to each panel of a multi-panel drapery, in which the widths of the .panels may vary, and .mark each panelin such manner that the pleat spacing in all of them is the same, and the pleat widths vary according to the dierences in panel widths.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide pleat and spacing marking apparatus that is color-coded in that the apparatus may be set to provide acolor guide -for marking of pleat widths and spacing thereof, thereby providing a means for setting a mark-guiding device accurately with respect to each panel and fraction thereof lin a drapery or curtain width.

Our invention also has for its objects to provide means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in working position and as easily removed therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority a-nd serviceability.

Our invention also comprises novel details of construc- -tion and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will appear more fully in the course of the following description, which has basis on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and said description merely describes, a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. l is a plan view of a layout of a curtain or drapery made of several panels and showing the present mark- 3,l66,854 Patented Jan. 26;, 19,65

guiding means in relation to two of the FlG. 2 is a front elevational view showing yone position of the mark-guiding means. Y,

FIG. 3 isa similar view showing another position of the mark-guiding means.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View as taken on line 4-l of FG." l, showing the color-code means of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary plan View of a color-code .record provided in the color-,code means.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are further enlarged vfragmentary yplan detail views of `portions of the record in FIG. v5.

4FIG. 8 is a broken plan view, with the top, thereof removed, of a pleat-width and -spacing marking device Vemployed in the-present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front edge view thereof, as in FIG. '8.

FIG. l0 is an enlarged front edge View of yone of a plurality of mark-guiding `units .comprising the device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 1l is a cross-sectional view as seen ,from the right end of FIG. 10. y

FlG. l, in fragmentary lform, shows a drapery 5, the same being here shown as .typicallycomprised of fabric panels 6, 7 and 8, 4joined by seams 9 and 1li. A head .11 is ordinarily provided at lthe upper end of the drapery, the same having no bearing on v,the present invention, except that the pleat-marking device l2 of vthe invention is placed so that Vthe markings may be made on said Ihead since the pleats are formed therein. l l l While but three panels are shown, it will be clear that, according to the widths of the panels, thirty-six inches, forty-five inches, or fifty-four inches, for instance, and the length of the finished and pleated drapery to be provided, as many as ten or more ful-l panelsor a lesser nurnber of full panels with a fractional-width panel, may be incorporated inthe drapery 5. v

Typical pleats usually comprise three Afolds hunched and stitched together Vat their base. Since each pleat is formed of six short lengths of drapery material-two for each foldthe width of material that goes into apleat may vary considerably from ,one .panel to another without visually changing the character of a lpleat. As an example, if 4panel-7, for instance, is sin inches Wider than panel `Educ to an overlap or return portion 12 at the outer edge of the latter panel, -t-hen the amount of material that goes vinto the pleats in panel '7 will be six inches more than the material that goes into the pleats in panel 6. Assuming both panels are to .have tive pleats, for uniform spacing of all of said pleats, the material in each pleat panel 7 will be one inch wider than the 4material in each pleat of panel 5. Dividing this ,difference by six-the number of short fold lengths of the pleats-the depth of the pleats in panel 7 will be one-sixth of an inch deeper than the depths ofthe pleats in panel 6. Such a small difference,

which is lesse-ned by the loops of the folds, cannot be visually detected except by close scrutiny oractual measurement. Therefore, for all practical purposes, even though the panels 6 and 7 had different widths, the same pleat up in the same way.

The Ipleat spacing and Athe number o-f pleats are determined bythe lunpleated width of the drapery material in relation to the width of ythe pleated drapery that is desired. Ordinarily tive or six pleats are used, depending o n the depth of the linished pleats and the iinished width of Ythe drapery. Of course, the number of the pleats may .Vafl

The present apparatus comprises, generally, a pleatmarking device 13, and a color-code device 14' mounted upon `the-,device i3 and movable therewith along the lay` out, as above described. v

The device313 comprises an elongated housing 15 proedades/t videdl with a pair of longitudinal guide lips 1d, a plurality of slide units 17 arranged in series along said guide lips 16, a marker 18 fixedly provided on each slide unit 17, marker means 19 adjustably mounted on the slide, and `means 20 adjustably connecting the slide units 17 to space the same longitudinally and equally relative to each other.

v,Thehousing comprises a base part 21 in which the kmeans .29 is housed and on which the lips 16 are provid-ed as upper inturned portions of the front and rear walls 22 and 23. Said housing includes a cover part 24 that closes the top of the base part 21 and has a forward tlange 25 spaced forward from the Wall 22 of the base part. At one end, said cover part is provided with a slot 26.

The unit 17a'at one end is fixed against longitudinal movement. The other end unit 17b is provided with a knob 27 that projects upwardly through said slot 26. Movementl of said knob, longitudinally, moves the slide unit 17b toward and from the fixed unit 17a and moves the intermediate units 17 proportionally through the adjustable connecting means 20. A fixed knob 2S at the end of the cover part 24 that is opposite to where the slot 26 is provided, cooperates with the knob 27 as a means for handling the device and for moving the same along the layout or drapery panels.

Each slide unit 17, as well as the units 17a and 17 b, is shown as a plate 29 resting upon the guide lips 16, guide `cleats 30 alixed to said plate and cooperating therewith to form guide channels engaged with said lips 16, a front plate 31 carried by the plate 29 and spaced forwardly from the front wall of the base part 21, a set of linear graduations 32 preferably along the lower edge of plate 31, and a longitudinal slot 33 in the latter plate. The right end of plate 31 bears the marker 18. The length of plate; 31 and the graduations 32 thereon are such as to :allow a range of adjustment of the marker means 1? as maybe needed in pleat-spacing marking of a drapery panel. A maximum of six inches and a minimum of two inches, as shown, is exemplary.

The marker means 19 is shown as a plate 34 that, by 'means of a clamp screw 35 extending through slot 33, is adjustably movable along the plate 31 to bring the marker 36 thereof in desired adjusted relation to the marker 18 on the plate 31. FIG. 9 shows such adjustment as pleatspacing dimensions S, it being clear that all these dimensions are alike to insure uniformity of spacing markings along the width of each panel of a drapery layout.

The means is here shown as a lazy tongs device connected by one end at 37 to the fixed end unit 17e, at the opposite end at 3S to the other end slide 17b, and at 39 to each of the other slide units 17. The connections 37, 38 and 39 are all at the same place on the respective vmembers 17, 17a and 17b. `Consequently, there are the same number of lazy tong bars between the connections of adjacent slide units and, therefore, upon separating of said units, the spacings therebetween will be uniform and 'will be smaller or greater according to the extension of the lazy tongs.

The lazy tong means 20 is an exemplary and preferred -way of maintaining uniform spacing of the slides 17, 17a and 17b as the member 17b is slid outwardly along the "guide lips 16. v

In practice, after it is determined how many pleats are vto be provided in each of the panels of a multi-panel drapery in the manner hereinbefore indicated, the pleat spacing VS, is adjusted on each slideby adjusting the means 19 of each said slide. Thus, each slide has two markers 18 and 36 that are all respectively spaced alike. Now, the slide 17a is placed adjacent to a seam 9 or 16 with the marker 18 on the seam and with the device 13 preferably resting upon the head 11 of the panel to be marked. If the panel is an end panel and has either an overlap or return portion,. the width thereof is taken into account Vand the device placed down on the head 11 with the Now, when the slide 17b is pulled in a direction to space the set of slides 17, the latter will space apart uniformly, creating uniform spaces P that have an extent that is an increment of the total amount of panel width that is ailotted to the pleats. Since the spacings S between pleats are predetermined and remain fixed, the spaces P will vary according to that width of a panel that is to be included in the pleat widths and spacings thereof.

lt can always be arranged that a pleat will be located to one side or the other of a seam between panels. In PEG. 2, the device is shown to provide live pleats with four spaces in panel 6 between the return bend 12 and the seams Si. if the panel 7 is to be divided in the same way, whether or not the width thereof is the same or varies somewhat from panel 6, the marking is carried on this panel in the manner above described. lf overlap or return portions are to be taken into account, the device while placed in operative position as before will be extended only to where the final marker 36 meets the beginning of the overlap or return.

Each of the markers 13 and 36 points to where marking chalk or a pin may be applied so that the person pleating the drapery will have the pleat widths and pleat spacings marked ready for carrying out the pleating operation.

In cases where there are many panels in the drapery width, as well as half panels or even panels of quarter and three-quarter width, the means 14 may be employed to facilitate the markings of such panels, especially when the conditions at tne last panel vary between full, half,- quarter and three-quarter width. Since said means 14 is preferably mounted on the cover part 24 of the marker` device 13, the facility of use is considerably increased since the color-code markings of the means 14 are available to the user at the place where the marking is being carried out. Since a drapery may comprise ten panels totaling a length of forty-live feet, the value of color-cod-V ing to facilitate proper marking may be realized.

The color-code device 14 is shown as a housing 40 mounted on the base part 24 and provided with a longitudinal slot 41, a tape or band record 42 within said housing 4G and wrapped around rollers 43 so that knobs 44 on said rollers may be manipulated to move the band record 42 past the slot 41.

Said band, on the face thereof that may be seen through the slot 41, is imprinted with indicia and color means 45, the same providing color-code designations for panels having widths varying throughout the full range of such fabrics.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the three examples shown therein will serve to explain the full range of fabric widths and panels thereof that may be used.

ln the top line of FG. 5, with panel widths of forty-l five or ftyfour inches, there being ve such panels in the drapery, the color indications 46, as coordinated with colors marked on the plates 31 and 34 of the marking device, and in connection with the markers 18 and 36, may be followed to achieve a suitably marked drapery without the need for independent orientation from panel to panel.

Assuming that the fixed slide 17a in connection with the marker 18 thereof on the plate 31, is provided with an orange area O, and the plate 3d, in connection with the marker 36 is provided with a green area G, and the slide 17b is provided with similar areas O and G, the user, after setting the spacing dimensions S on each slide, places the orange-marked marker 18 of slide 17a on one edge of panel l of the drapery and the orange-marked marker 18 of slide 17b on the other edge. He now proceeds to mark this drapery panel. He then moves the device into position on panel 2" and, without changing the adjustment of the spacing markers, places the green-marked marker 36 of slide 17a on the seam between the l and panels, and shifts the orange-marked marker 18 to the opposite seam of panel 2. He then proceeds, panel encased by panel, to set and mark the color-coded markers 18 and 36 according to the code or indications 46 until all ve panels have been marked-all merely by following the code provided at 46 of FIG. 5. The partial enlargement of PEG. 6 shows the color code for panels l and 2. If there are more than five panels in a drapery being marked, the means 45 relating to such a drapery will be moved for exposure through slot t1 and the code revealed followed by the operator.

For draperies having fractional panels at one end, whether right hand or left hand, one of the intermediate slides may 4be coded with a different color, such as the color violet shown at the color code 46a. Where the fractional panel is at the left, the device 13 is placed on the drapery, as above explained. Then where the fractional panel is at the right, the device may be turned end-for-end and the pleat width and spacing markings may proceed from the left toward the right. Additional intermediate slides may be color marked for quarter and three-quarter width panels, using different colors for the same.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our pending application Serial No. 107,997, filed May 5, 1961, entitled Pleat-Marking Apparatus.

The foregoing, being exemplary of the invention, is subject to variation and modification within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. We do not, therefore, wish to restrict ourselves to the device as herein disclosed, but desire to avail ourselves of all modiiications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Pleat-marking apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) pleat-marking means including a plurality of slides each provided with adjustable pleat and pleat-spacing markers and an expansible means connecting the slides for uniform spaced adjustment relatively to each other,

(b) a code color provided for each said marker and carried by said slides,

(c) a color code device including a color code band related to the code colors of the markers and provided with means for manually selectively adjusting said band, and with a housing having a slot through which the code colors of the band are exposed according to the adjustment of the band, and

(d) an elongated housing carrying both the pleat-marking means and the color code device with the slides and expansible means of the pleat-marking means within the housing and the code colors thereof exposed at the front of the housing, and the color code device mounted with its slotted housing on top of the elongated housing and in the line of vision of the operator during the marking by the apparatus of the pleat folds and spacing thereof on a at lay-out of a drapery.

2. Pleat-marking apparatus according to claim 1 in which is provided an adjusting knob for the pleat-marking means, the elongated housing having an elongated slot in one end portion of the top thereof through which said knob-extends, the color code device being offset from said slot and disposed on the opposite end portion of the elongated housing.

3. Pleat-marking apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a at elongated housing having a top wall with a longitudinal slot therein located nearer one end of the housing than the other, and with an open front side,

(b) a plurality of slides longitudinally arranged within the housing and each provided with an adjustable pleat marker and a pleat-spacing marker exposed from the open side of the housing,

(c) a lazy tongs connecting said slides and affixed by one end thereof to the end of the housing wall that is opposite the slot-provided end thereof, the slides being connected to said lazy tongs at uniformly spaced increments and being spaced from each other at greater or lesser distances according to the degree of extension or contraction of the lazy tongs,

(d) an adjusting knob on the slide farthest from the axed end of the lazy tongs and extending through the slot in the housing for extending and contracting the lazy tongs to vary the spacing of the slides accordingly,

(e) a code color provided on each slide, one associated with the pleat marker and one with the pleat-spacing marker,

(f) a color code device including a color code band related to the code colors of the markers and provided with means for manually selectively adjusting said band, and with a housing having a slot through which the code colors of the band are exposed according to the adjustment of the band, and affixed to the mentioned wall of the elongated housing between the slot therein and the mentioned other end of the housing, and

(g) a fixed knob on the top wall of the elongated housing between the color code device and the adjacent end of said housing and cooperating with the adjusting knob for manipulating the apparatus during marking of pleat folds and spacing thereof 0n a at lay-out ol drapery, the operator having pleat and pleat-spacing markers as well as the portion of said color code band that is exposed in view While manipulating the apparatus by both knobs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,624,031 4/27 Adler 33`192 2,084,728 6/ 37 Eberhardt 40-86 2,203,053 6/ 40 Hines 40-86 2,306,634 12/ 42 MacDonald 40-86 2,5 85, 042 2/ 5 2 Sarnmons 40-86 2,998,659 9/ 61 Yaworsky 33--192 X FOREIGN PATENTS 961,933 11/49 France.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

1. PLEAT-MARKING APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) PLEAT-MARKING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SLIDES EACH PROVIDED WITH ADJUSTABLE PLEAT AND PLEAT-SPACING MARKERS AND AN EXPANSIBLE MEANS CONNECTING THE SLIDES FOR UNIFORM SPACING ADJUSTMENT RELATIVELY TO EACH OTHER, (B) A CODE COLOR PROVIDED FOR EACH SAID MARKER AND CARRIED BY SAID SLIDES, (C) A COLOR CODE DEVICE INCLUDING A COLOR CODE BAND RELATED TO THE CODE COLORS OF THE MARKERS AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS MANUALLY SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING SAID BAND, AND WITH A HOUSING HAVING A SLOT THROUGH WHICH THE CODE COLORS OF THE BAND ARE EXPOSED ACCORDING TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BAND, AND (D) AN ELONGATED HOUSING CARRYING BOTH THE PLEAT-MARKING MEANS AND THE COLOR CODE DEVICE WITH THE SLIDES AND EXPANSIBLE MEANS OF THE PLEAT-MARKING MEANS WITHIN THE HOUSING AND THE CODE COLORS THEREOF EXPOSED AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSING, AND THE COLOR CODE DEVICE MOUNTED WITH ITS SLOTTED HOUSING ON TOP OF THE ELONGATED HOUSING AND IN THE LINE OF VISION OF THE OPERATOR DURING THE MARKING BY THE APPARATUS OF THE PLEAT FOLDS AND SPACING THEREOF ON A FLAT LAY-OUT OF A DRAPERY. 